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At least three people in Fairfax County have died following Winter Storm Fern as extreme cold, lingering ice and hazardous conditions continue across the region.
Police said officers responded to several recent CPR calls involving people with heart problems. Three of those incidents resulted in deaths, prompting authorities to urge residents to take additional precautions, particularly around older adults and others vulnerable to severe weather.
The deaths include a Kings Park West man in his 70s who collapsed while shoveling snow on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Around 5:34 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a possible CPR call in the 5700 block of Backlick Road in Springfield. A caller reported that a friend living in a tent might be dead. Scanner traffic indicated the location was near a known homeless encampment by the Backlick Road train station.
The 50-year-old man was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
In a separate incident shortly before 7:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 6600 block of School Lane near the James Lee Community Center for a reported cardiac arrest. An 89-year-old woman had been found apparently dead in the backyard of her West Falls Church home in the Mosby area.
She was transported to a hospital, where her death was confirmed.
Police called the incidents a stark warning about the risks posed by severe winter conditions.
Winter Storm Fern dropped between 5.5 and 8.5 inches of snow and sleet across Fairfax County from late Saturday night through Sunday. The storm closed schools, delayed trash pickup and other public services, and restricted travel around the region.
A prolonged stretch of cold forecast through the weekend has complicated cleanup efforts. Snow and ice have hardened into compact piles that are difficult to remove.
Another Cold Weather Advisory is scheduled from 7 p.m. Thursday until 11 a.m. Friday, with wind chills expected to fall as low as 9 degrees. The National Weather Service warned that exposed skin could be vulnerable to frostbite and that the conditions could cause hypothermia.
An Arctic blast moving south could bring record daily low temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic. Another major winter storm may begin Friday, although forecasts indicate it will probably miss the D.C. area. Fairfax County’s chance of weekend snow is 30%.
Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program is operating during the cold spell. Anyone who sees a person who may be at risk of hypothermia can call the police non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. Police advise calling 911 when someone needs immediate assistance.
Older residents and caregivers can contact the county’s Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resources Line at 703-324-7948 for referrals to wellness checks, meals, transportation and in-home support.
Residents who need urgent assistance with heating, food or other necessities can reach Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, or TTY 711. Police are also asking relatives, caregivers and neighbors to regularly check on older adults, especially those who live alone or lack dependable heat.
Authorities recommend taking frequent breaks while shoveling or clearing ice because exertion in cold weather can be particularly dangerous for older adults and people with underlying health conditions. When possible, residents should work during the warmest part of the day, stay hydrated, wear layered clothing and avoid rushing on icy surfaces.
Police also recommend checking on vulnerable neighbors, directing people experiencing housing insecurity toward warming centers or assistance, and keeping entrances, steps and walkways clear with salt or sand added for traction.